# Please help me decide what to make with yummy summer berries **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2011, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decide-what-to-make-with-yummy-summer-berries/592171 "2011-08-10T04:44:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decide-what-to-make-with-yummy-summer-berries/592171/1 "2011-08-10T04:44:39Z")
Today I got some lovely raspberries (1 qt), blueberries, (1qt. or so) and I have a cup or so of sour pie cherries as well. I also have a couple of pre-rolled Pillsbury pie crusts. I was thinking it would be fun to make little tartlets, or maybe a coffeecake of some sort. I’m not necessarily looking to make a pie, but pie-like suggestions are welcome. I’ve been through my cookbooks and saw a recipe for blueberry buckle that sounded yummy, but I thought it would be fun to consult the Dope to see what sort of delicious ideas y’all might have for me. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated!! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decide-what-to-make-with-yummy-summer-berries/592171/2 "2011-08-10T10:12:08Z")
Why would you mess up raspberries or blueberries by encasing them in a bunch of comparatively tasteless pie dough? Just eat 'em! (Pies are what you eat in the winter, as a substitute when fresh berries aren’t available.) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decide-what-to-make-with-yummy-summer-berries/592171/3 "2011-08-10T10:26:04Z")
My granddad made this every year with berries from his garden: [summer pudding](http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4516/summer-pudding). Very English and very good (and let’s face it, we need all the help we can get at looking good at the moment). It’s a weird recipe but hope you can see beyond that: it works. ---
**Author:** ![drbhoneydew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d78d45/32.png) [@drbhoneydew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drbhoneydew)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decide-what-to-make-with-yummy-summer-berries/592171/4 "2011-08-10T10:56:57Z")
Summer puddings are lovely. Funnily enough, this works better with rubbish bread. Crumbles are really nice and easy to make too. I grew up on raspberry crumble 🙂 Cherries work great in clafoutis. Compotes & purees are nice with ice cream or yoghurt. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decide-what-to-make-with-yummy-summer-berries/592171/5 "2011-08-10T12:44:26Z")
I recently had a Freezer Incident, and ended up with 3+ quarts of thawed wild blueberries that needed to be used up. What I did: Blueberry muffins (twice) Lots of blueberries in my beer & iced tea 1 Blueberry pie 1 [freeform blueberry tart](http://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/detail.php?docid=6091) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decide-what-to-make-with-yummy-summer-berries/592171/6 "2011-08-10T12:48:35Z")
Some berries and a pinch of sugar microwaved = pancake topping. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decide-what-to-make-with-yummy-summer-berries/592171/7 "2011-08-10T16:26:13Z")
I like to make a nice fruit dish of strawberries, blueberries, slivered almonds all covered with a bit of either amaretto or amaretto coffee syrup (for the non-alcoholic). I think this would still work well with the berry combination you have. Mix together, let it sit in the refrigerator for a couple hours (at least) and serve. Yummy! ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decide-what-to-make-with-yummy-summer-berries/592171/8 "2011-08-10T16:46:48Z")
There’s nothing better than fresh raspberries, whole or macerated gently in sugar and a dash of water, over ice cream or cheesecake. In the summer, not that anyone cares any more, I used to make a fresh blueberry pie: one baked pie shell 3 C. fresh blueberries (put 2 cups aside) 2-1/2 TB. cornstarch 2/3 C. water 3/4 C. sugar 2 TB. fresh lemon juice and 1 TB. grated rind 2 TB. butter 1 scant tsp. of cinnamon Mix 1 C. of berries with sugar, cornstarch, and water, making sure there are no lumps, bring to a boil, and simmer, stirring, until thick (this happens fast). Add lemon juice and rind, cinnamon, and butter and stir. Let it cool and add 2 C. fresh berries. Pour into the baked pie shell, top with whipped cream. Don’t leave out the lemon and cinnamon! Now. I have a quart of seedy wild black raspberries in the freezer, and I never know what to do with them, other than mixing in with other kinds of berries. I may attempt some kind of freezer jam. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decide-what-to-make-with-yummy-summer-berries/592171/9 "2011-08-10T16:48:44Z")
Berry Vodka (I usually make cherry vodka after cherry picking season) 3 bottles vodka, 6 cups sugar, and as many berries as you can spare, mashed up and all put in a large sealable plastic container. Crack some of the cherry stones, crush and add in a muslin bag for a slight almond-y edge. Leave for a few months, agitating regularly. and drain the vodka from the berries (which are now ready to be boiled down to sauce) and bottle. It should have taken colour and flavour from the berries, and sticky sweetness from the sugar. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decide-what-to-make-with-yummy-summer-berries/592171/10 "2011-08-10T17:03:54Z")
Get your hands on some fresh rosemary and make this! [Rustic Rosemary Fruit Tart](http://www.publicradio.org/columns/splendid-table/recipes/special_fall_appletart.html) It is AMAZINGLY good. I heard Lynne talk through this recipe on _The Splendid Table_, and she emphasized that you can use any type of fruit. I’ve tried it with blueberries, apples, raspberries, strawberries and pears (in various combinations). All delicious. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decide-what-to-make-with-yummy-summer-berries/592171/11 "2011-08-10T17:10:48Z")
Isn’t it a bit late in Indy for the raspberries to be black raspberries? If they’re red ones, chuck 'em. Red raspberries taste like bedbugs smell (according to my great grandfather, who probably had occasion to smell bedbugs)! Black raspberries are bliss. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decide-what-to-make-with-yummy-summer-berries/592171/12 "2011-08-11T03:31:09Z")
What, almost a dozen posts and nobody has mentioned ice cream? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decide-what-to-make-with-yummy-summer-berries/592171/13 "2011-08-11T13:54:44Z")
_I_ mentioned ice cream. And cheesecake. God, NO ONE ever reads my posts, anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decide-what-to-make-with-yummy-summer-berries/592171/14 "2011-08-12T02:46:45Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > _I_ mentioned ice cream. And cheesecake. God, NO ONE ever reads my posts, anywhere. So you did. I was thinking of berries as a major component of the ice cream, though, rather than as a topping. I should have been more clear. I did read your post, though; it made me very, very hungry.